On Tuesday, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and reigning Most Outstanding Player quarterback Zach Collaros agreed to a three-year contract extension through the 2025 season.
The 34-year-old from Steubenville, Ohio, is a candidate to win another MOP award with 301 of 431 completions for 4,115 yards, 35 touchdowns, 13 interceptions, and six carries for 49 yards in 17 games this year.
The Blue Bombers acquired Collaros on October 9th, 2019, from the Toronto Argonauts for a 2020 first-round pick, which Toronto drafted offensive lineman Theren Churchill.
In 22 career games in Winnipeg, Collaros is 566 of 805 completions for 7,521 yards, 57 touchdowns, 20 interceptions, and 19 carries for 122 yards. Since arriving in Winnipeg, Collaros has helped the Blue Bombers win two Grey Cup championships. In addition, Collaros is the 2019 Grey Cup MVP, a CFL All-Star in 2021, and CFL West All-Star in 2021,
Collaros began his CFL career with the Toronto Argonauts after not making the Tampa Bay Buccaneers squad. He played two seasons in Toronto with 197 of 298 completions for 2,417 yards, 17 touchdowns, six interceptions, 62 carries for 263 yards, and five touchdowns in 22 games. Toronto released him after the 2013 season.
Then, Collaros signed with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in 2014. He played four seasons in Hamilton with 930 of 1,396 completions for 11,342 yards, 66 touchdowns, 32 interceptions, 100 carries for 583 yards, and three touchdowns in 53 games. However, Collaros tore his ACL late in the 2015 season and eventually lost the starting job to Jeremiah Masoli.
In 2018, Collaros was traded to the Saskatchewan Roughriders for a 2018 second-round pick, which Hamilton traded the pick to Edmonton. Collaros played two seasons in Saskatchewan, completing 234 of 382 passes for 2,999 yards, nine touchdowns, 13 interceptions, and 25 carries for 110 yards in 15 games. Collaros suffered two concussions during his time in Saskatchewan.
In 2019, Toronto re-acquired Collaros from Saskatchewan for a 2020 fourth-round pick, which Saskatchewan took wide receiver Kian Schaffer-Baker from Guelph. Collaros never played a game for Toronto and was traded to Winnipeg.
Collegiately, Collaros played four seasons at Cincinnati (2008-11) with 485 of 783 completions for 6,278 yards, 51 touchdowns, 26 interceptions, 266 carries for 798 yards, and 16 touchdowns in 41 games. In 2010, he was named First Team All-Big East.
